Three men arrested in pharmacy break-in drug ring

Three Detroit men have been arrested and await charges in a federal drug ring case involving more than 30 pharmacies that have been burglarized in southeast Michigan over a six-month span.

Federal criminal complaints have been filed against the three suspects — Ameen Perry-Bey, 26; Juwan Perry, 21; and 42-year-old Calvin Benford — who are alleged to have stolen controlled substances from area pharmacies and distributing them illegally.

Each suspect is accused of conspiracy to possess, possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. Perry-Bey and Benford also are accused of possession of a firearm by a felon, according to FBI Supervisory Senior Resident Agent Jeffrey Downey.

Perry-Bey made an initial appearance in federal court in Detroit Wednesday afternoon, where he was ordered temporarily detained. He will return to Magistrate Laurie J. Michelson’s courtroom at 1 p.m. Thursday for a detention hearing.

Advertisement

Charges against the three stem from multiple burglaries in Oakland, Macomb and Wayne counties in recent months. The crimes were tied together after authorities noticed each burglary took place in the early morning hours and had the same method.

“Video surveillance at each location recorded individuals who employed pry bars and other burglary tools to open doors forcibly and break windows in order to gain entry to the pharmacies,” said Downey in a statement. “Once inside, the subjects would fill patterned or black garbage bags with controlled substances before leaving the location.”

The FBI-led Oakland County Gang Task Force, along with the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, the Troy Police Department and officers from at least eight other area agencies, recently caught up with the suspects and arrested them.

Troy Police Chief Gary Mayer lauded the partnerships between federal, state and local law enforcement to keep the citizens of southeastern Michigan safe.

Likewise, Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said that he’s pleased such criminals were taken off the street.